Hope, Joy, and Thanksgiving
This week, many of you will gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving; enjoying time together as you share a meal and join in your family’s special traditions. For many of you, it won’t be hard to find things to be thankful for. Family, good health, work you enjoy, or other blessings easily come to mind.
For some of you, Thanksgiving may be hard this year. Sickness, death, hard financial times, or strained family relationships can make holidays difficult. Something to “get through” rather than enjoy. Maybe it will be harder to find things to be thankful for.
As I write this, I’m thinking of another meal shared by friends many years ago. It was a special holiday and 13 friends gathered in the upper room of a home to share a meal together. These close friends had been through thick and thin together, but this meal would be different from the many they’d shared before.
I’m thinking of Jesus and his disciples and what has become known as the “Last Supper”, the final meal they shared before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. Can you imagine Jesus’ experience that night? Washing his friends’ feet, sharing a meal, talking about the future – all while knowing that one of these dear friends would betray him that night. Knowing that he was about to undergo horrific torture, shame, and death, bearing the full wrath of the Father for our sins. How could Jesus “get through” a meal like that?
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that “for the joy set before him [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The Father’s love was so great he sent Jesus’ to die for us. Jesus’ love for us was so great that he was willing to endure the cross, knowing his death and resurrection would bring glory to the Father and provide a way for us to be forgiven and restore our broken relationship with the Father.
Paul says that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) For followers of Christ, this salvation gives us a hope that can enable us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Peter says in 1 Peter 1:3-6,
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
An incredible, eternal inheritance kept in heaven for us by God’s power! That is cause for thanks and rejoicing, even if we face trials! But that’s not all, we are promised wonderful things for this life.
As Jesus ate this special meal with his disciples he promised them the Holy Spirit, an advocate to help them and be with them forever (John 14:16) and Jesus promised them his peace (John 14:27). Our new life in Christ frees us to live for God and his glory, restoring our true identity, instilling hope, meaning, purpose, and joy for our lives.
Whether your year has been difficult or not, our hope is that you will see the many things in your life you can be thankful for – chief among them God’s incredible love for you. Our hope is that, in all circumstances, you will experience the grace, joy, and peace of a life in Christ!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
We are thankful for you!
We are so thankful for you! It is such a joy and privilege to know and serve you. Thank you for inviting us to be part of your stewardship journey.
One Thanksgiving tradition many families enjoy is going around the table sharing things they are thankful for. In keeping with this tradition, some of our team around the Beacon Wealth table wanted to share things they are thankful for.
Cassie Laymon
I am thankful for our team members at Beacon Wealth. I have held various leadership roles over the last 30 years, and this is best team I’ve ever been a part of. It’s a blessing to work alongside colleagues who love their work and share the common goal of loving and serving our clients in a way that honors the Lord.
Colin Craig
I’m grateful that the Lord brought me to Beacon Wealth earlier this year, and for the BWC team that has warmly welcomed me aboard. I’m thankful for all the time that Hillary and Kim have invested in teaching me the job. I’m also grateful for a company that strives to honor God through intentional investing and seeks to faithfully care for our clients. I’m also grateful for my family and friends, for the change of seasons that we enjoy here in Pennsylvania (it is snowing outside as I type this). God’s blessings are too numerous to count!
David Black
I have so many things to be thankful for! The biggest thing: this past year each of our kids have shown a desire to grow in their faith. Our oldest and I are studying the Bible together and our three youngest are enjoying memorizing Scripture. This is all by God’s grace, since we are by no means perfect parents! But my heart resonates with 3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
Denny Gillard
I’m so blessed it’s always hard to narrow down what I’m most thankful for but it always seems to be “Next to God, Jesus & Holy Spirit it is parents, siblings, spouse, kids, grandkids and friends (including work associates. 😊)
Hillary Sunderland
I am thankful that after being stuck at home during much of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to take a wonderful vacation with our kids this year. I am also thankful for our new pug puppy, Smuckers.
Jake Preston
I’m extremely thankful for all the families I am able to serve and for the opportunity to help align their money with what’s important to them. I’m also grateful to be part of a team that encourages, prays for, and challenges each other to strive for excellence in service to the families and companies we are blessed to serve.
Kevin Zemann
We are thankful for our 12-year-old adopted daughter Maddie, whose birth mother and birth grandmother wanted her to be aborted, but God had a different plan for her and for us.
Kim Jenkins
I’m thankful for all the great new additions to our team this year, staying healthy, friends and coworkers who feel more like family, and the many great opportunities that have come our way in the past few months. Oh, and Zoom since the rest of my department is in Pennsylvania, so we spend half of our working lives on video calls!
Rick Laymon
The thing I am most grateful for in 2022 is the amazing team we have grown to be. We have added several new very talented members and are having more fun collaborating than we ever have. Moreover, I never have to worry about how well my clients are being cared for and served by our team.